Thursday, March 13, 2008

Walsingham Lodge - history & recent photos

During WWII, Bert and Ada Mackie lived at Walsingham Lodge, Manor Park, Chislehurst. This address is shown on Bert's will dated 6th June 1943. They were living at Basildon Road, Abbey Wood (of which more later) before the war and returned there afterwards. It is very likely that they were at Walsingham Lodge in connection with Bert's work for the government. (His death certificate describes him as retired chief clerk with the Ministry of Supply.) Amongst the archives, I have an "On His Majesty's Service" envelope addressed to "Mr Mackie, I.M.T. Walsingham." It carries no postage, implying it was sent by some form of internal mail. It contains a number of passport-type photographs, some of which are stamped "Chief Inspector of Mechanization, Photographic Section, Chislehurst, 13 FEB 1941". The pictures are all head & shoulders portraits identified by surnames only in pencil on the back. I presume these were Bert's colleagues. (I wasn't intending to post these photos here as they are not actually of relatives and I imagine they will be of little interest. But if anybody would like to see them, let me know.)

Walsingham Lodge is still extant. Thanks to John Stiles for providing these two recent photos and also the following notes from Discover Chislehurst (D. Spurgeon, 2007):

'Walsingham' Manor Park. A 'Queen Anne' style house built c.1880 (architect - George Somers Leigh Clarke). Also part of property 'Walsingham Lodge' and 'Walsingham Cottage'.

Walsingham Cottage is to the right of Walsingham Lodge, but hidden behind hoardings at present owing to building work. Walsingham Lodge now has a dormer loft conversion in the roof.

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